SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Water and agriculture are at the heart of life on the Central Coast, but experts say invasive species could pose a growing threat to both.
From golden mussels that can clog waterways and water infrastructure to invasive weeds that can add fuel to wildfires, invasive species can create environmental and economic problems across the region.
Pests and plant diseases can also threaten crops grown throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, potentially leading to crop damage, higher control costs and losses for local farmers.
Sapna Thottahill with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation says the threat is expected to evolve as people and pests continue to move.
“The biological reality is that species are going to keep evolving, and the social reality is that humans are going to keep moving around bringing pests in the state.”
Experts say climate change is adding another layer to the challenge by changing where invasive species can survive.
Jeff Dukes with the Carnegie Institution for Science says shifting temperatures could make California more vulnerable to species from regions with climates that increasingly resemble conditions here.
For local water managers, golden mussels are a particular concern. The invasive species can attach to pipes, pumps and other infrastructure, potentially creating costly problems for water systems if populations become established.
Officials are working to prevent golden mussels from spreading to new waterways and facilities.
State agriculture officials say preventing an invasive species from becoming established is far more effective than trying to control it after it spreads.
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said the state's strategy focuses on early detection, rapid response and stopping the spread — and, when possible, eradicating invasive species.
“It is early detection. It is rapid response. It is stop the spread.”
Experts say Central Coast residents can also play a role by learning to identify invasive species and reporting potential sightings.
For a region that depends on healthy waterways, productive farmland and native wildlife, officials say preventing the next invasion could help protect much more than the environment — it could also protect critical parts of the Central Coast economy.
Invasive Species Threaten Central Coast Water, Agriculture News Channel 3-12.
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